M&S and its long-term suppliers are set to donate 100,000 Christmas dinners to families facing hardship this holiday season. 

The initiative, part of the King’s Coronation Food Project, will see the upmarket retailer partnering with 2 Sisters Food Group (2SFG), Valeo Foods Group and food waste charity FareShare.

M&S will donate 240,000 portions of vegetables, including roast potatoes, parsnips, Brussels sprouts and cauliflower cheese, all of which are produced at the Carlisle 2SFG site.

In addition, 100,000 servings of turkey crowns have been donated by Bernard Matthews, and 1,800 pots of Bisto Turkey gravy granules will be provided by Premier Foods, while families will also receive a Matthew Walker Christmas Pudding, a brand owned by Valeo Foods Group. 

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These products will be collected by FareShare on 20 December and distributed to local charities throughout the UK, including community centres, homelessness charities, lunch clubs and youth centres.

M&S Food managing director Alex Freudmann said: “At M&S we are committed to doing the right thing for the people and communities we serve.

“I’m delighted that this year, in partnership with our suppliers, we’re helping families in need by providing 100,000 Christmas dinners in time for the big day, through our ongoing work supporting FareShare”.

Earlier this year, M&S unveiled plans to invest £1m to donate over 1.5 million freshly prepared meals to families in need via FareShare as part of the Coronation Food Project.